Patriots, Spartans Add 23rd Wins for Season

By Lee Davis
Journal Staff Writer

The number 23 was magic for both the Homewood and Mountain Brook boys’ basketball teams last weekend.
Both the Patriots and Spartans earned their 23rd victories Friday night with impressive showings.
Homewood raised its record to 23-4 with a 60-41 triumph over Parkway Christian. Marvin Whitt sparked the Patriots with 14 points. Earnest Bell scored 11, and Nyck Young added 10.
The Patriots are currently ranked fifth in Class 6A.
Mountain Brook moved to 23-5 with a 76-63 victory over Shades Valley. Sean Eaton paced the Spartans with 12 points. Mario Stramaglia and Ryan Austin each added 11. Austin Keim scored 10 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
Mountain Brook is ranked eighth in Class 6A.
Spain Park earned its 20th win of the season with a 47-27 rout of Oak Mountain. The victory marked the Jaguars’ first-ever win on the Eagles’ home court. Rembert Martin led Spain Park with 15 points. Mitchell Holt chipped in 11 points. Steven Lawson contributed seven points, four rebounds and six steals.
The Jags raised their record to 20-8.
Briarwood improved to 21-9 with a 73-56 bashing of Chilton County. Jason Laatsch led the Lions with 26 points. James Palmer added 11 points along with 10 rebounds. Luke Collins scored 10 for the winners.
Hoover used a strong second half to handle Ramsay 65-53. John Crain and Sam Hutcheson each scored 12 points for the Bucs. Jaron Davis added 11.
John Carroll Catholic rolled to an easy 58-35 win over Walker. Chris Turk sparked the Cavaliers with 20 points and nine rebounds.
Indian Springs topped Jefferson Christian 62-35. Charlie Simpson led ISS with 18 points. Larry Liu scored 13, and Hart Wilson followed with 12. Indian Springs raised its record to 14-7.
Shades Mountain Christian overwhelmed Sumiton Christian 45-32. Blake Gardner and Nick Holt each totaled 12 points for the winning cause.
In girls’ play, Hoover sprinted to a 13-2 lead to rout Ramsay 65-38. Nicole Tanner led the Lady Bucs’ scoring with 17 points. She also had 10 rebounds.
Breigha Cochran — on the strength of four three-point baskets — finished with 14 points, five rebounds and five steals. Chardonae Fuqua scored 13 points with five rebounds, and Kayla Anderson had 10 points with four rebounds. Hoover, the defending state 6A champion, improved its record to 26-3 for the season.
Spain Park used a three-point basket by Colby Ryan with five seconds left in overtime to give the Lady Jaguars a 36-33 win over Oak Mountain. Jessica Freeman led Spain Park with 13 points. Ryan finished with six. The Lady Eagles were paced by Hannah Griffin, who hit four three-point baskets on the way to a 14-point performance.
Briarwood moved to 24-4 with a 63-20 rout of Chilton County. Hannah Wainwright scored 12 points and added four steals for the Lady Lions. Anna Handlin added 10 points for the winners.
Shades Mountain Christian defeated Sumiton Christian 43-36. Rachel Riley topped the Lady Eagles’ scoring with 12 points; Charla Davis scored 10 points and had 10 rebounds. Shades Mountain raised its record to 15-9 for the year.
Shades Valley surprised Mountain Brook 57-46. Collier Ogilvie led the Lady Spartans with 21 points. Mountain Brook fell to 23-4 for the season.
Gardendale defeated Homewood 50-39. The Lady Patriots’ Erica Lapore led all scorers with 21 points.
Area Tournament Schedules…
Area tournaments will begin this week. In boys’ 6A play, Thompson will host the Area 10 tournament on Friday. Hoover will meet Oak Mountain in the first round, while the host Warriors will take on Pelham in the second game. The winners will meet for the championship Feb. 14.
Homewood will host the Area 12 tournament Friday, facing Vestavia Hills in the first game. Mountain Brook will play Spain Park in the second game. The winners will play for the Area 12 title Feb. 14.
In boys’ Class 5A play, Briarwood was to have met Chelsea in the first round of the Area 7 tournament Tuesday. If the Lions won, they were to have faced host Sylacauga Friday. The Area 7 championship game is set for Feb. 14.
Class 5A Area 9 features John Carroll Catholic facing host Parker in the first round Friday. The winner will play either Ramsay or Wenonah Feb. 14.
The Indian Springs boys will play in the Class 3A Area 8 tournament at B.B. Comer. ISS will face Leeds Friday. The winner will play the Comer-Clay County winner Feb. 14.
Altamont’s boys’ team will face Holy Family in the first round of the Class 2A Area 10 tournament at Vincent Friday. The winner will meet Vincent, Fultondale or Victory Christian in the Feb. 14 finals.
The Shades Mountain Christian boys were to have faced Jefferson Christian in the first round of the Class 1A Area 8 tournament Tuesday. If the Eagles won, they would have moved to the semifinals Friday. The finals will be played Feb. 14.
In girls’ play, Hoover will host the Class 6A Area 10 tournament beginning Thursday. Thompson will meet Oak Mountain in the first game, and Hoover will play Pelham in the second game. The Area 10 championship game will be played Feb. 12.
Mountain Brook will host the 6A Area 12 tournament Thursday. Vestavia Hills will meet Spain Park in the first game. The Lady Spartans will face Homewood in the second game. Feb. 12 will be the date of the Area 12 championship game.
Briarwood will host the Class 5A Area 7 tournament. The Lady Lions will meet the winner of Tuesday’s Sylacauga-Chelsea game Thursday. If Briarwood wins, it will meet the winner of Thursday’s Shelby County-Talladega game Feb. 12.
The John Carroll Catholic girls’ team will play Wenonah in the first round of the Class 5A Area 9 tournament at Ramsay Thursday. The winner will play either Ramsay or Parker for the area championship Feb. 12.
Indian Springs’ girls will play in the Class 3A Area 8 tournament at Leeds Thursday. ISS will meet Clay County. If Indian Springs wins, it will face the Leeds-B.B. Comer winner in the Feb. 12 final.
In Class 2A, the Altamont girls will host the Area 10 tournament. The Lady Knights will face either Fultondale or Victory Christian Thursday. If Altamont wins, it will meet the Holy Family-Vincent winner for the championship Feb. 12.
The Shades Mountain Christian girls will meet Jefferson Christian in Thursday’s first round of the Class 1A Area 8 tournament at Holy Spirit Catholic. If they win, the Lady Eagles will play either Parkway Christian or Holy Spirit Feb. 12 for the area title.